Antirotation method to straighten sections and antirotation straightening machine which employs such method

Abstract

Antirotation method to straighten sections (11), such sections (11) having a solid or hollow cross section and possibly having externally a round or ribbed cross section, or ridges, or else TOR type helicoidal ribbing, or a three-lobed, cross-shaped or star-shaped cross section. etc., and being in the form of bars or coils in a wound bundle (12) and possibly comprising a lengthwise twist, the section (11) being guided by grooves (21) comprised in rolls (18) of processing assemblies (16-17-23) and being made to pass through a guide and prestraightener assembly (16) and through two straightening assemblies (17) before being rendered linear (20) and then finished by a finishing assembly (23), the section (11) being diverted during the straightening step along at least one S-shaped or Z-shaped half-loop (14) and remaining positioned substantially on one single plane until it reaches the finishing assembly (23).

We claim: 
     
       1. Antirotation method to straighten sections, comprising: guiding the sections through a guide and prestraightener assembly to initially straighten the sections;   passing the initially straightened sections through at least two straighening assemblies, wherein each of said straightening assemblies includes multiple pairs of rolls, and each of said pairs of at least one of said straightening assemblies is positioned to form a half-loop, thereby essentially preventing rotation of the sections while the sections are straightened;   passing the sections through a linearizing assembly to form linear, straightened sections; and   passing the sections through a finishing assembly to form a finished, straightened section product, wherein the sections pass through each assembly along a sinuous path lying substantially on one single plane.   
     
     
       2. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the sections are further passed through a drafting unit for exerting a drafting function on the sections. 
     
     
       3. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the finishing assembly acts on the sections along a plane substantially at a right angle to the plane on which action has hitherto been applied to the sections. 
     
     
       4. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one straightening assembly exerts a drafting function on the sections. 
     
     
       5. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the sections follow a curved path at least on the half-loop. 
     
     
       6. Method as claimed in claim 5, in which such curved path has a substantially circular development in the neighborhood of a vertex and low point of the half-loop, the radius of said circular development being between 350 mm. and 1000 mm.